The Alhambra Office Complex on Fremont Avenue is expanding. A new development on its property will include 351 residential condominiums, a parking structure, and an L.A. Fitness Facility.

  Planning/Zoning Services

The Planning Division's primary function is to carry out a comprehensive, long-term plan for the orderly and harmonious development and improvement of land. This is done in accordance with the  Alhambra Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development (2005-2010), which is required of each city by the State of California.

The Alhambra City Planning Commission is responsible for guiding the City's planning process and is comprised of ten individuals appointed by the City Council from the community. Their work includes identification of planning-related problems and opportunities; review of plans for projects requiring zoning changes, variances, or subdivision approval, as well as publicly-supported projects such as those initiated by the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency. The Commission meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Common planning issues include downzoning areas to preserve the single-family character and integrity of neighborhoods; reducing the number of units that can be built on any given parcel to create more open space; and reducing parking problems by researching ways to modify the City's zoning ordinance.

On a day-to-day basis the Planning Division staff answers a variety of questions pertaining to applications/permits for land and building use. To streamline the permit process, both the Planning and Building Divisions provide contractors and homeowners with an easy step-by-step guide for completing the process. On large-scale projects, pre-construction coordination meetings are held with project proponents and all City staff who will play a role in the construction process to help ensure a smooth running project.

To promote additional development, Alhambra affords flexible development standards on R-3 zoned properties. The goal is to promote higher quality multiple family residential development, encourage innovative design and efficient use of land that might otherwise be stifled by rigid development standards, encourage consolidation of parcels, and judge permit developments on individual merits. The flexible development standards provision allows for variation from up to three of the provisions required by the R-3 zone, three provisions required by the property development standards, and three provisions required by the design standards. In addition, flexible parking standards may also be requested but are subject to approval by the Planning Commission. Flexible development standards are restricted to lots 40,000 square feet and larger.